Flying toy



May 30, 1961 KyvANDEGRlFT FLYING TOY Filed NOV. 10, 1958 INVENTOR..Thomas K. vandeyrfft (9% Q W Attorn ey United States Patent :O F

2,986,363 FLYING TOY Thomas K. Vandegrift, 3580 Vorhies Ann Arbor, Mich.

Filed Nov. 10, 1958, Ser. No. 772,990

14 Claims. (Cl. 244-153) Road,

This invention relates to a flying toy or kite and has for a primaryobject the provision of such a toy which during flight resembles aman-launched satellite 1n appearance.

, Another object is to provide a simply and economically fabricated andassembled kite-type toy comprising a number of struts radiating from acentral spherical body and supporting sheet sail members arranged tolift the assembly into the air when subjected to the force of light windand improved means within the spherical body for posi- 1 tively holdingthe struts in fixed relationship with respect to each other, whereby thespherical body'can be feasibly made from lightweight non-load sustainingplastic material supported in place by the struts.

Other objects of this invention will appear in the followguy stringsbeing rigged for flying, but the sail surfaces and supporting stringstherefor being removed.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the junction block employed to holdthe struts in fixed relationship with respect to each other.

It is to be understood that the invention is not limited in itsapplication to the details of construction and arrangement of partsillustrated in the accompanying drawings, since the invention is capableof other embodiments and of being practiced or carried out in variousways. Also it is to be understood that the phraseology or terminologyemployed herein is for the purpose of descrip tion and not oflimitation.

Referring now to the drawings, a kite-type toy is illustrated comprisinga spherical body 10 formed in the present instance from thin lightweightsemi-spherical bowls 10a and 10b having equatorial flanges 11a and 11brespectively which are preferably cemented together to assure optimumrigidity. Where desired, the body '10 can be fabricated fromcomparatively rigid lightweight material, as for example, glazed paperboard, whereby the body 10 comprises the support for a plurality ofstruts or antennae 12 of lightweight material, such as wood or tubularaluminum. In the present instance, economy is achieved by forming thebody 10 from comparatively 2,986,363 Patented May 30, 1961 2 I flimsynon-load supporting plastic which is held in posi tion by the struts 12passing therethrough as indicated, Figure 1. If the bowls 10a and 10bare of sufiiciently rigid material, these need not be glued or cementedtogether because they will be held in fixed position by the struts 12. v

The six struts or antennae 12 illustrated radiate from the center of thespherical body 10 and extend therethrough along three orthogonal axes x,y, and 2 respectively, the struts being individually designated 12x,12x, 12y, 12y, 12z, and 12z in accordance with their respective axialdirections. Where desired, each pair of oppositely directed antennae canbe a single integral rod which passes the other two rods or pairedintegral antennae adjacent the 'center of the spherical body 10, inwhich case the rods will be maintained in fixed relationship withrespect to each other by the rigidity of the sphere 10 or by a centraljunction block of comparatively lightweight wood or plastic material forexample. In the present instance, a junction block 13 is located withinthe center of, the sphere 10 and comprises six plastic tubes 14x, 14x,14y, 14y, 14z and 142, Figure 3, arranged along the aforesaid orthogonalaxes and snugly containing therein the struts 12x, 12x, 12y, 12y, 121and 122'. If desired, the struts can be secured within the junctionblock by glue or other means, or merely by friction and the tension ofguys or strings 15 joining certain of the ends of the struts 12 andsupporting the edge of sail surfaces 16 and 17 as described below.

By virtue of the symmetry of the struts or antennae 12 with respect tothe spherical body 10 described thus far, any pair of oppositelydirected struts can be designated the x-axis struts, thereafter eitherof the remaining two pairs of oppositely directed struts can bedesignated the y-axis struts, and the remaining pair of oppositelydirected struts will be designated the z-axis struts, without in any wayafiecting the following description of the arrangement of the strings 15and sail surfaces 16 and 17. With the axes designated as in Figure l,the strings 15 tautly connect the outer end of each strut with the outerends of each of the other struts except the oppositely directed strut.

The sail member 16-comprises a diamond-shaped sheet in its unfoldedcondition. In the assembled condition shown, the mid-line of the sail 16folds over and extends along the length of the upper string joining thestruts 12y and 122. Opposite ends of the diamond-shaped sail 16 extendto the outer ends of the struts 12x and 12x. Preferably the edges of thesail 16 are secured to the adjacent struts and portions of the strings15.

Sail 17 is formed and secured in position similarly to sail 16 andcomprises a diamond-shaped sheet having its mid-line folded over thelower string 15 joining struts 12z' and 12y. Opposite ends of thediamond-shaped sheet 17 extend to the outer ends of the struts =12x and12x. Where required for stability in gusty weather, a suitable tail 18may be secured to the lower end of the strut 1 2z'. The sails 16, 17,and tail 18 are preferably formed from clear plastic material so as notto be visible from a distance. Thus the toy in flight will resemble asatellite or sputnik.

I In, flight, the toy is controlled by a customary restraining string 19having its lower end, not shown, under the manual control of a child orother operator of the toy. The upper end of the restraining string 19 issecured to the juncture 20 of four guy strings 21, 22, 23, and 24, thejuncture 20 lying in the plane of the yz axes somewhat below the y-axisand about twice the distance along the latter axis in the forward orleftward direction that the corresponding strut 12y extends from thecenter of the sphere 10. Thus the imaginary line through the juncture 20and the center of the sphere makes an angle q of approximately 8 to '10degrees with the y-axis. From the juncture 20, the guy strings 21 and 22extend toandare securedto the outer ends of the struts 12x and 12x.Similarly from the juncture '20fthe guy strings 23 and 24 extend to theout-er ends of the struts .12z and 12z'and are secured thereto.

Although the precise proportions can be varied within moderate limits,it has been found that the toy flies satisfactorily when constructedwith 18" struts 36" from end to end) radiating from a 10" diametersphere I and with the juncture 20 located '40" from the center of thesphere '10 approximately along the angle stated below the y-axis. Byvirtue of the structure described, a novel flying toy which resembles asatellite in flight can be economically fabricated and stored andshipped in a knocked-down condition. Thereafter the 'toy may be readilyassembled and flown by a child with a 'minimum of instruction orassistance.

I claim:

1. In a flying toy, a body, a plurality o'f struts projecting from saidbody and arranged in fixed "relationship with respect to each other,wind'enga'gingsail means supported by said struts, said sail meanshaving opposing surfaces confronting each other and opposite sides ofsaid body and spaced from said body for passage of wind between saidbody and opposing surfaces, and means for connecting said toy with arestraining string.

2. In a flying toy, a body, a plurality of struts projecting from saidbody and arranged in fixed relationship with respect to each other, windengaging sail means supported by said struts, said sail means havingopposing surfaces confronting each other and opposite sides of said bodyand spaced from said body for passage of wind between said body andopposing surfaces, and

means for connecting said struts with 'a restraining'string.

3.111 a flying toy, a spherical body, aplur ality of struts projectingradially from said body and arranged in fixed relationship with respectto each other, wind engaging sail means supported by said struts, saidsail means vhaving opposing surfaces confronting each other and oppositesides of said body and spacedfrom said body at said opposite sides forpassage OfWiIld between said body and opposing surfaces, and means forconnecting said struts with a restraining string.

4. A toy according to claim 3 having six struts arranged approximatelyalong three orthogonal axes designated x, y, and 2 respectively, saidsail means including sheet portions approximately coextensive with thetwo triangular areas determined by outer points on one of said struts onthe z-axis, on one of said struts on the 'y-axis, and on both of saidstruts on the x-axis, "said sail means also including sheet portionsapproximately coextensive with two other triangular areas determined byouter points on the other strut on the z-axis, the other strut on they-axis, and on both struts on said x-axis.

5. A toy according to claim 4 wherein said points are approximatelyequidistant from the center of said body, and said axes extend toadjacent said center.

6. A toy according to claim 4 wherein said means for connecting saidstruts with a restraining string include guys connected to outerportions of said struts on said x and z axes and converging to alocation spaced from the y and z axes and lying in the plane containingthe latter axes.

"7. A toy according to claim '6 'wherein saidtwo other triangular areasare located between said location and said body, and said location is onthe same side of the plane containing said 2: and y axes as is saidother triangular areas.

8. In a flying toy, a body, --six struts projecting from said body andarranged in fixed relationship with respect to each other along threeorthogonal axes designated x, y. and .z respectively, wind engaging sailmeans supported by said struts including sheet portions approximatelycoextensive with the two triangular areas determined by outer points onone of said struts on the z-axis, on one of saidstruts on the .y-axis,and on both of said struts on'the x-axis, said sail means also includingsheet portions approximately coextensive with two other triangular areasdetermined by outer points on the other strut on the z-axis, the otherstrut on the y-axis, and on both struts on said x-axis, and means forconnecting said toy with a restraining string.

9. A toy according to claim 8 wherein said axes pass each other adjacentthe center of said body.

1 0.-A toy according to claim 8 wherein said "toy is arrangedsymmetrically with respect to the plane "containing saidfy and z axes.

' 11. A toy according to claim 10 "wherein said means for connectingsaid'toy with'arestrainingstring include guys connected to outerportions of said struts on said x and -z axes and converging to alocation spaced from the .y and z axes and lying in the planecontaining'the latter axes.

112. A toy according to claim 11 wherein said two other triangular areasare located between said location and said body, and said location ison'the same side of the plane containing said x and'y axes as is "saidother triangular areas.

'13. In a flying toy, a body, a plurality of struts "arranged in fixedrelationship with respect to each other,

the axes of said struts crossing each other within said body,'saidstruts extending outwardly beyond said body, a -pair of windengaging sails supportedby said struts and having confronting surfacesspaced by said body and arranged forpassa'ge of wind around said bodyand between said confronting surfaces. I

14. In a flying toy, a spheroidalbody, a plurality of struts arranged infixed relationship with respect to each other, the axes of said strutscrossing each other within "said "body, said struts extending outwardlybeyond said body, wind engaging sail means supported by said struts,said sail means including paired sail portions disposed at oppositesides of 'said body, said sailportions having surfaces confronting eachother and also confronting said opposite sides of said body and beingarranged for passage of wind between said opposite sides of said bodyand said surfaces.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,398,745 Jalbert Apr. 16, 1946 2,744,701 Robey May 8, 1956 2,835,548Baumann "a May 20, 1958 FOREIGN PATENTS 300,597 Germany Sept. 19, 1917508,119 Belgium Jan. 15, 1952

